"Here comes ... Ron Paul. A new survey by left-leaning Public Policy Polling (PPP) finds the Texas congressman now leading for the GOP nomination in Iowa, where voters cast the first ballots of the 2012 presidential contest on Jan. 3. ... Paul's rise comes as Newt Gingrich fades. The former House speaker has dropped nine percentage points nationally since the beginning of the month, according to the Gallup daily tracking poll." (12/19/11)

"It is Walter Block who provides us with the 'moral obligation' argument regarding Paul as a 'libertarian litmus test.' Block restates this litmus test in a recent article disqualifying Wendy McElroy from being a libertarian because of her refusal to support Paul’s candidacy. The best thing I can say about Block is that he clearly demonstrates the folly of treating libertarianism as a moral theory." (12/16/11)

"Every legacy media and central planner's worst nightmare is slowly coming true: as the broader field of GOP candidates is rapidly dropping like US secret drones blowing up nuclear power plants in Iran, due to general idiocy, incompetence, too much baggage-ness or general reverse American Idol syndrome where Americans get tired with any given 'leader' only to vote them out of the primary the following week, the one clear winner is becoming Ron Paul." (12/13/11)

"Ron Paul is the Rodney Dangerfield of Republican presidential candidates. The 12-term Texas congressman ran for president on the Libertarian Party ticket back in 1988 and was widely seen as a sideshow in 2008, despite finishing third in the GOP field behind John McCain and Mike Huckabee. Why, despite a small but devoted set of supporters, does this 76-year-old obstetrician turned politician routinely get no respect from the media and GOP operatives?" (12/09/11)

"The magnitude of support for Ron Paul is impressive. He is poised to do very well in Iowa and it looks like the campaign to support libertarian's favorite Texas member of Congress has more enthusiasm behind it than Paul's 2008 campaign. What is fascinating is how gullible libertarians are regarding Paul's excuses, the way he panders to them too and the double standard libertarians take toward him." (12/11/11)

"Some guy named Ron Paul keeps placing first or second in most polls, yet no one in the media seems to recognize him. Michele Bachmann led at one time, as did Rick Perry; last month it was Herman Cain. Yet Newt is surging now, which is what got him in trouble with his divorces. A man named 'Newton' has to understand this law of gravity: What goes up can quickly come down." (12/07/11)

"I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed when the Ron Paul campaign decided to skip the Republican 'debate' being staged by Donald Trump. I was looking forward to seeing the most distinguished and honorable politician in the last fifty years making a fool out the megalomaniacal 'moderator' with the appalling toupee. It turns out, however, that Ron Paul didn’t even have to show up in order to make a fool out of Donald Trump. Trump is one of those rare individuals who can’t help making a complete ass out of himself when there is no one else around to do it for him, and this occasion was no different." (12/05/11)

"Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia holds a lead in Iowa, where the first Republican presidential nomination votes will be cast a month from now, according to a poll released yesterday. Gingrich has the support of 25 percent of likely caucus participants in the latest Iowa Poll from the Des Moines Register newspaper. U.S. Representative Ron Paul of Texas was next, with 18 percent ..." (12/04/11)

"It was a masterful performance. Ron Paul -- fraudulent populist, friend of the oligarchy, sworn enemy of every social program since Theodore Roosevelt -- had won the day, again. Why shouldn’t he? Frauds win, whether they are in finance or politics." (11/29/11)

"I can't forgive myself for voting for Arnold Schwarzenegger for governor during the 2003 recall. ... If everyone who voted for Schwarzenegger under the belief that McClintock couldn't win had voted for McClintock, who's now a congressman, perhaps he would have won the governorship. The Schwarzenegger v. McClintock race springs to mind as Ron Paul, the quirky Texas congressman with unwavering libertarian principles, pursues the GOP nomination for the presidency." (11/27/11)

"A little feedback to NPR, dropped down the deepest well in the world. No likelihood of ever hearing a splash, but what the hell. ... A complete and deliberate NPR 'blank out' when it comes to mentioning how Ron Paul had scored a close second in the poll." (11/21/11)

"Texas Rep. Ron Paul (R) received a 'mic check' from protesters affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement at a town hall event in Keene, New Hampshire on Monday. 'We are the 99 percent,' they shouted. 'We will be heard.' ... 'Do you feel better?' Paul responded, chuckling. 'If you listen very carefully, I’m very much involved with the 99 [percent].'" [editor's note: Of ALL those running for 2012, Ron Paul is the closest thing OWS has to an ally (or maybe the NH folks knew that, and tossed him a lob?) - SAT] [additional note: Of all the REPUBLICANS running? Maybe - TLK] (11/22/11)

"With one and only one exception, every Republican presidential candidate is either stupid, crooked, insane, or a little of all three. ... The one exception is doctor and Congressman Ron Paul. I have been severely critical of the good doctor in the past, and will doubtless continue to be in the future. He is mistaken on a couple of important issues. But he is also the only Republican candidate who understands what's wrong with this country, how to fix it, and is willing to do so." (11/20/11)

"To most pollsters and pundits, any mention of Ron Paul typically comes with an implied asterisk. Whether they say it outright or not, they don’t think the Texas congressman has a chance of being the GOP presidential nominee. ... And yet Rep. Paul soldiers on ... Paul is the perpetual tortoise in the race, mild-mannered, confident and unwavering in his positions (no flip-flopper he), advancing steadily toward the first real test in the Iowa caucuses six weeks from now." (11/20/11)

"Although there are plenty of short-sighted reasons for the Democrats to support various candidates [in the Republican primaries], the list of candidates that a Democrat could positively support is much shorter. It comes down to two candidates; Mitt Romney and Ron Paul." (11/19/11)

"[Ron] Paul’s supporters have consistently claimed the Texas congressman is being deliberately ignored by the 'mainstream' media, and the amount of noise they’ve generated about this has been the subject of more than a few self-justifying media self-analyses, which usually conclude that, no, he’s getting what he deserves. Okay, fine, that’s debatable, although I have my own opinion on the subject: what isn’t debatable, however, is Paul’s rising level of support." (11/16/11)

"So much for what Ron Paul publishes. He's super on ending the Fed, gun ownership, homeschooling, quite good (though sometimes flawed) about his Plan to Restore America, the economy and taxes, health, defense, the right to work and energy, but thoroughly dreadful concerning abortion and immigration -- so it's inconsistent, a mixed bag that leaves me unexcited. Better by far than all his rivals, but falling short of where he ought to be." (11/14/11)

"Ron Paul points out that there is a big difference between national defense and military adventurism. Our current foreign policy is heavily engaged in nation-building operations which do little to serve national defense and in many cases lead to the eventual development of hatred towards the United States." (11/07/11)

"As big government forces in league with Obama attempt to take over (and thereby destroy) the original Occupy Wall Street movement, equally dark forces associated with the likes of Romney, Perry, and Cain attempt to destroy it through the use of force (police) and ridicule. And the complicit mass media assists all of them by constantly misrepresenting what the movement stands for. I had thus almost given up hope on this (perhaps last) chance to save our country ... when a miracle happened ..." (10/28/11)

"America is the greatest nation in human history. Our respect for individual liberty, free markets, and limited constitutional government produced the strongest, most prosperous country in the world. But, we have drifted far from our founding principles, and America is in crisis." (10/18/11)

"Political platforms tend to be vague promises for something better in the future, and deliberately so. Lots of people favor making things better than they are today, but far fewer will be in favor of any one specific alternative. ... In that context, it is refreshing to see that Ron Paul’s 'Plan to Restore America' makes specific and detailed budgetary recommendations." (10/18/11)